Oilfield services company to build headquarters in Terrebonne

Published: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 8:54 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 10:36 p.m.

A local oilfield service company will build its new $10 million corporate headquarters in Gray and is seeking a site to build its new $20 million manufacturing facility, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Tuesday.

The new facilities will create 426 new jobs over the next five years as Danos new deepwater oil and gas opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico, along with land-based and international energy growth. Danos, a construction, labor and services partner for major oil and gas companies, is headquartered in Larose.

“Today's announcement is great news for the bayou region and for our entire state. Danos is one of Louisiana's deeply rooted homegrown companies, renowned for its technical expertise, performance and above all, outstanding safety in the oil and gas business,” Jindal said. “The company has proudly called Louisiana home for decades, and it knows that our state is home to an incomparable workforce, a strong business climate and a tremendous energy infrastructure.”

Of the new direct jobs, 326 will be at the headquarters site with salaries averaging $75,000 per year, plus benefits. The remaining 100 new direct jobs will be created at the manufacturing site with salaries averaging $65,000 per year, plus benefits.

Danos is considering four locations for its future manufacturing site, including Terrebonne Parish, New Orleans, St. Mary Parish and New Iberia. As an incentive to stay in the state, Danos received a $1.5 million Economic Development Authority Program grant to make improvements on the future site of its manufacturing facility.

Hiring for positions at the new headquarters will begin later this year, and manufacturing positions will be filled beginning in 2014.

The company's expansion project will also retain 400 existing jobs in Louisiana and create an estimated 200 construction jobs. Danos will continue fabrication operations at its Larose site, where the company has operated since its 1947 founding in Lafourche Parish.

Louisiana Economic Development estimates the projects, with their combined $30 million investment, will result in an additional 871 indirect jobs for a total of nearly 1,300 new jobs in the state.

Danos selected Terrebonne for its new headquarters after considering sites Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.

“The Danos family business has deep roots in south Louisiana,” company CEO Hank Danos said. “The heritage and culture of this area are important to who we are as a company,”

Danos said the company selected the Gray site because of its location on U.S. 90, which offers easy access to New Orleans and Lafayette. The site is also less vulnerable to storms.

The site is just off U.S. 90 on Main Street in Gray, near Schlumberger Oilfield Services. Construction of the new headquarters will begin by late summer.

As the company expanded and outgrew its headquarters, the state stepped up to encourage and help the company to remain in Louisiana, Danos said. He added his three sons have since relocated to Terrebonne Parish.

The manufacturing site will be selected within three months, and construction will begin by year's end. Both new facilities will be complete by the end of 2014.

“Louisiana has a great tradition of family businesses that grow,” said Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet. “We are honored that Danos has chosen Terrebonne Parish for their new facility.”

Staff Writer Nikki Buskey can be reached at 448-7636 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.

<p>A local oilfield service company will build its new $10 million corporate headquarters in Gray and is seeking a site to build its new $20 million manufacturing facility, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Tuesday.</p><p>The new facilities will create 426 new jobs over the next five years as Danos new deepwater oil and gas opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico, along with land-based and international energy growth. Danos, a construction, labor and services partner for major oil and gas companies, is headquartered in Larose.</p><p>“Today's announcement is great news for the bayou region and for our entire state. Danos is one of Louisiana's deeply rooted homegrown companies, renowned for its technical expertise, performance and above all, outstanding safety in the oil and gas business,” Jindal said. “The company has proudly called Louisiana home for decades, and it knows that our state is home to an incomparable workforce, a strong business climate and a tremendous energy infrastructure.”</p><p>Of the new direct jobs, 326 will be at the headquarters site with salaries averaging $75,000 per year, plus benefits. The remaining 100 new direct jobs will be created at the manufacturing site with salaries averaging $65,000 per year, plus benefits.</p><p>Danos is considering four locations for its future manufacturing site, including Terrebonne Parish, New Orleans, St. Mary Parish and New Iberia. As an incentive to stay in the state, Danos received a $1.5 million Economic Development Authority Program grant to make improvements on the future site of its manufacturing facility.</p><p>Hiring for positions at the new headquarters will begin later this year, and manufacturing positions will be filled beginning in 2014.</p><p>The company's expansion project will also retain 400 existing jobs in Louisiana and create an estimated 200 construction jobs. Danos will continue fabrication operations at its Larose site, where the company has operated since its 1947 founding in Lafourche Parish.</p><p>Louisiana Economic Development estimates the projects, with their combined $30 million investment, will result in an additional 871 indirect jobs for a total of nearly 1,300 new jobs in the state.</p><p>Danos selected Terrebonne for its new headquarters after considering sites Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.</p><p>“The Danos family business has deep roots in south Louisiana,” company CEO Hank Danos said. “The heritage and culture of this area are important to who we are as a company,” </p><p>Danos said the company selected the Gray site because of its location on U.S. 90, which offers easy access to New Orleans and Lafayette. The site is also less vulnerable to storms.</p><p>The site is just off U.S. 90 on Main Street in Gray, near Schlumberger Oilfield Services. Construction of the new headquarters will begin by late summer.</p><p>As the company expanded and outgrew its headquarters, the state stepped up to encourage and help the company to remain in Louisiana, Danos said. He added his three sons have since relocated to Terrebonne Parish.</p><p>The manufacturing site will be selected within three months, and construction will begin by year's end. Both new facilities will be complete by the end of 2014.</p><p>“Louisiana has a great tradition of family businesses that grow,” said Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet. “We are honored that Danos has chosen Terrebonne Parish for their new facility.”</p><p>Staff Writer Nikki Buskey can be reached at 448-7636 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.</p>